Vanderbilt Winter 2025

The competition hall at Vanderbilt University was filled with the rhythmic clatter of plastic and the steady click of timers as the 2025 season gathered momentum in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Across the tables, 143 competitors arranged their gear, warmed their hands, and prepared for a dense schedule spanning five events and ten rounds of play. The gathering offered a full test of discipline, bringing together seasoned hands eager to reaffirm their standing alongside rising solvers testing their skill across an array of puzzles.

Veteran composure quickly came to the fore as the opening rounds tested consistency under tournament conditions. In a high-stakes cubing competition, experience often shows in how smoothly a competitor manages the transition between vastly different disciplines, from large-layer puzzles to precision sprints. The atmosphere inside the venue remained sharp and focused throughout January 18, 2025, as contenders pushed through early heats to earn coveted spots in the afternoon finals across both standard and specialty categories.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a massive field of 140 competitors through three rounds of intense solving. Luke Griesser proved unbeatable when the pressure peaked, securing the title at Vanderbilt Winter 2025 with an exceptional winning average of 6.12 seconds, highlighted by the best single time of the tournament at 4.95 seconds. Matias Marcantoni-Nunez claimed the second step on the podium with a 6.99 average, while Eli Parker rounded out the top three by registering a 7.03 average in a tight contest for the primary 3x3 results.

Shorter formats yielded blistering speed, particularly in the 2x2x2 Cube where Matias Marcantoni-Nunez captured first place with a 1.29 winning average and a best single of 1.11 seconds. Nicolás Sánchez took second place with a 1.61 average, and Chase Duncan secured third with 2.30. In Pyraminx, Marcus Kamen demonstrated complete mastery of the triangular puzzle across two rounds of 112 entrants, taking victory with a 2.29 average and a 1.55 single. Henry Savich followed in second at 2.99, while Dominic Redisi earned third place with a 3.62 average.

Big cubes and memory events brought distinct challenges to the stage at Vanderbilt Winter 2025. In the 6x6x6 Cube, Vishwa Sankar led a field of 48 competitors over two rounds, winning with a swift 1:27.24 average and a 1:22.86 single solve. Katie Hull placed second with an average of 1:47.28, ahead of Dominic Redisi in third at 1:55.86. Sankar also reached the podium in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, claiming third with a single solve of 1:26.91 behind runner-up Preston Hoing at 1:14.39 and champion Micah Morrison, whose 37.58 single stood as the decisive winning mark.

Beyond the podium finishes, the scorecards revealed significant individual breakthroughs throughout the WCA competition. Jacob Williams took on three events and posted a massive 38.5 percent drop in the 2x2x2 Cube with a 4.89 personal best, cut his 3x3x3 Cube best by 23.1 percent to 17.38, and made a first ever attempt at Pyraminx with an 11.41 single. Cooper Korthuis logged four events, delivering a 34.7 percent improvement in the classic Rubik's Cube to reach 10.18 seconds, an 11 percent drop in the 6x6x6 Cube to 3:16.48, and a first ever 2x2x2 Cube mark of 4.74. Brayden Walters tackled five events, finishing 13th in 3x3x3 Blindfolded, logging a first Pyraminx solve of 9.12, and dropping his 3x3x3 mark by 37.3 percent down to 11.48.

Progress continued across the roster as Nolan Yeung competed in five events, taking 13th in blindfolded solving, recording a first 6x6x6 Cube result of 4:25.53, and taking 29 percent off his Pyraminx best to hit 7.57 alongside a 10.00 personal best in 3x3x3. Anthony Largura entered four events, logging his first 6x6x6 Cube solve in 5:19.48 while improving his 2x2x2 Cube mark by 30.8 percent to 3.12 and his 3x3x3 time by 28.5 percent to 15.18. Brooks McAffry posted a first Pyraminx time of 14.42 and improved his 2x2x2 Cube best by 30.3 percent to 6.59. Micah McClain registered a first Pyraminx mark of 16.51 and reduced his 2x2x2 time by 27.8 percent to 6.35, while Micah Sumida entered five events, completed his first 6x6x6 solve in 3:14.90, placed 13th in blindfolded, and cut his 2x2x2 time by 22 percent to 3.05.

The high standard of execution across all five disciplines reflected the deep preparation competitors brought to the tables in Nashville. Competitors from the United States swept all 15 podium places across the day, demonstrating sharp speed cubing skills and tactical balance in every round. As the equipment was packed away and the timers reset, the performances at Vanderbilt Winter 2025 established a solid benchmark for the speedcubing community as the competitive calendar moves forward into the upcoming season.